The Courageous Leaders Podcast

What does leadership look like when everything is on the line?In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I’m joined by three extraordinary leaders, Mandy Hickson, former RAF fast jet pilot, Mark Fetters, Bomb Disposal Squadron Commander, and Rob Keeping, former military professional turned Managing Director.From being shot at mid-air, to leading bomb disposal missions, to making high-stakes decisions under extreme pressure, this is leadership in its rawest form.This isn’t theory. This is what leadership looks like when failure isn’t an option.We explore what courage really means, why fear is part of the process, how elite teams are built, and what modern leaders are getting wrong when it comes to burnout, performance, and growth.If you’re leading a team, building a business, or navigating uncertainty, this conversation will challenge how you think, act, and show up.What We Cover:00:00 – Trailer01:07 – Why This Military Leadership Panel Is Different01:28 – What Courage REALLY Means (Not What You Think)03:32 – Courage Isn’t the Absence of Fear05:26 – Bomb Disposal Mindset: Confidence vs Caution08:02 – Fear of Failure: Military vs Corporate Reality11:46 – Leading a War Mission as a Junior13:07 – Shot at by a Missile… Then the Mission Changed16:24 – “Only Do What Only You Can Do”19:00 – Why Relying on an A-Team Will Kill Your Company25:22 – The 80% Rule (Peak Performance Without Burnout)27:05 – Burnout, Stress & Why Leaders Are Breaking Today34:03 – Failure, Rejection & Becoming a Fighter Pilot45:30 – Final Reflections & Leadership Takeaways51:30 – Final Message & Closing ThoughtsLeadership isn’t about having all the answers.It’s about how you show up when it matters most.👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

Are you leading your team… or unknowingly holding them back?In my work as a leadership coach, I’ve seen how easy it is for well-intentioned leaders to fall into toxic patterns, without even realising it.In this episode, I break down the subtle behaviours that quietly build into toxic leadership. The ones that don’t look harmful on the surface, but over time, create dependency, frustration, and disengagement within your team.From being the “fixer” to micromanaging, avoiding conflict, or slipping into passive aggression, these are patterns I’ve seen in countless leaders… and ones I’ve had to confront in myself too.This is not about blame.It’s about awareness.Because the moment you can see it, you can change it.00:00 – Are you a toxic leader without realising it?00:40 – The toxic leadership pyramid explained01:10 – The “fixer” trap: helping vs control02:00 – Why micromanagement limits your team02:50 – Avoiding conflict and the need to be liked03:40 – Passive aggression and emotional awareness04:30 – When toxicity turns into bullying05:00 – How to recognise and shift these behavioursThis Episode Explores:• Toxic leadership behaviours• Micromanagement and control patterns• Emotional intelligence in leadership• Workplace bullying awareness• Leadership self-awareness• Building empowered teams• Breaking unconscious habitsReflection Questions for Leaders• Where am I over-helping instead of empowering?• What am I still controlling that I should let go? • Which conversation am I avoiding right now?• Where have I been indirect instead of honest?If this episode feels uncomfortable, that’s a sign you’re paying attention.Leadership isn’t about being perfect.It’s about being aware enough to do better.👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

What does it really take to have the courage to change?In this episode, we unpack the real, messy, and powerful moments behind choosing change in your career and life.I sit down with Amber Shand, Founder of She Bites Back; Catherine Peacock, Co-Founder of 05:37; and Georgie Rechner, Bodybuilder and Founder of Midlife Rebel, who all found the courage to change their lives. This isn’t about overnight success or glossy highlight reels. It’s about the struggle to shift your identity, let go of old job titles, handle fear of judgement, and actually put in the work when things get tough. We dive deep into what makes bold change possible, and why being true to yourself matters more than anything.Whether you’re thinking about leaving your job, starting something new, or just need a bit more resilience, this conversation will help you see what courage really means, from losing people to building your own path.We cover:00:00 – Introduction01:24 – What it takes to make real change02:41 – Shifting your identity and asking for help03:04 – Launching a business and finding courage05:21 – The moment you decide to go for it07:27 – What pushes people to make big changes11:05 – Facing your biggest fears12:49 – Dealing with judgement and self-worth15:16 – Losing your identity and finding what’s next19:03 – The price of happiness vs material comfort21:02 – Keeping confidence going during tough times23:28 – Visualising the future and being true to yourself25:32 – Why failing isn’t really failure27:26 – Action, liminal spaces, and getting through anxiety29:19 – The reality of hard work in entrepreneurship33:38 – Balancing rest, joy and burnout45:55 – The grief and loss that comes with change49:09 – How midlife gives us ‘no tolerance for bullshit’51:54 – Building visible strength and confidence55:06 – Physical strength as mental strength58:27 – Introvert myths and running a business01:01:08 – Would you change anything? No regretsDon’t miss this honest and practical conversation about courage, change, and finding your own way.👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

How do you lead when certainty disappears?In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I’m joined by Anne-Laure Le Cunff, Neuroscientist and Author of Tiny Experiments.This conversation genuinely changed how I think about leadership, productivity, burnout and decision-making.We talk about what happens when your identity is tied to your job.And how an experimental mindset can change your lifeWhat procrastination is really trying to tell you.Why goal setting is broken.If you’re a leader who feels stuck and tired of pushing harder but not seeing better results…Stay to the end.Anne-Laure shares a practical way to replace the illusion of certainty with curiosity. And it’s something you can apply immediately in your workplace, your team, and your own internal world.We cover:00:00 – Introduction02:00 – Leaving Google and the wake-up call that changed everything04:00 – Identity, external validation and starting again06:00 – Why our brains hate uncertainty08:30 – The illusion of control and compensatory control11:00 – Why leaders feel trapped (and how tiny experiments create agency)14:40 – Linear goals vs experimental loops17:00 – How to build a culture of experimentation in your team22:00 – Procrastination is not laziness (head, heart or hand?)30:00 – Fear, psychological safety in the workplace and uncertainty34:30 – Time anxiety and why we make our worlds smaller as adults38:50 – Better decision making: internal vs external signals44:00 – Self anthropology and how to observe your burnout patternsThis episode explores:• Tiny experiments in leadership• How to stop procrastinating at work• Leadership under uncertainty• Psychological safety in the workplace• Decision making under uncertainty• Burnout recovery and time anxiety• Overcoming imposter syndrome• Curiosity in leadership• Profound insights into personal growth and self improvementIf you’ve ever felt pressure to have all the answers as a leader, this conversation will feel like a breath of fresh air.👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

Struggling to break free from the UK’s “play it safe” mindset? In this explosive episode, Josh White, founder of Cano Water, gets real about why British culture is stuck in a cycle of skepticism, lack of support, and shutting down bold ideas before they can breathe. He shares raw truths about growing up with ADHD, battling addiction, and constantly being underestimated.He exposes how our resistance to backing innovators and celebrating success holds the UK back, while the US supercharges visionaries. If you know you’re meant for more, but keep hitting a wall of doubt and gatekeeping, this conversation will hopefully inspire you and give you the resilience to keep going.We Cover:01:08 – How growing up as the underdog shaped his drive03:03 – The moment ADHD was diagnosed and what changed06:18 – Understanding the link between ADHD and addiction09:09 – How addiction masked deeper struggles (and why sobriety mattered)12:06 – What it’s actually like to live and work with ADHD16:00 – How to build a company without ‘fitting in’20:18 – Creating Cano Water when nobody believed in it25:10 – Why being different matters, and the truth about risk28:12 – The real problem with the United Kingdom mindset and backing new ideas33:07 – Fixed mindset vs growth mindset: what’s holding us back37:43 – Small things any of us can do to build a more supportive culture40:20 – Nurturing belief and creativity, why it starts young44:13 – The courage to show up and keep leading (even when it’s hard)Don’t miss this emotive and thought-provoking episode packed with practical ideas for ambitious leaders, creative thinkers, and anyone who’s ever felt underestimated.👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

Why do so many successful leaders still feel stuck, disconnected, or self doubt, even when things look good on paper?In this solo episode, I explore how senior leaders, founders, and leadership teams can build self-trust by listening to their three intelligence centres: head, heart, and gut, especially when making difficult decisions or designing a life that truly fits.This reflection draws on my work with CEOs and leadership teams, alongside my own journey of learning to trust myself beyond logic, external validation, and “what I should do.”This episode is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and reconnect with the internal signals that guide brave leadership, aligned decision-making, and sustainable success, so you can lead, decide, and live with more courage and clarity.00:00 – Why so many successful leaders still feel disconnected02:15 – Courage starts with listening, not confidence05:10 – The three intelligence centres every leader has08:30 – The Head: clarity, logic, and the overthinking trap12:40 – The Heart: values, emotion, and what really matters17:20 – The Gut: instinct, timing, and quiet courage22:10 – What happens when one centre dominates your leadership26:30 – Designing a life that actually feels like yours30:40 – Simple questions to build self-trust in decisions35:10 – A closing reflection on choosing courage differentlyReflection Questions for Leaders• Which intelligence centre do I default to under pressure?• What has my gut been trying to tell me that I’ve rationalised away?• Where am I living a version of success that looks right — but feels wrong?• What would a 10% more courageous decision look like right now?Don’t miss out on this powerful episode which can help your leadership  and personal development. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

How do you lead with conviction when everything is changing around you?It’s the big question for every UK leader right now and exactly why I invited Simon Cook, CEO of Cannes Lions, onto the podcast.In this episode, we get honest about what it really takes to let go of control, build true trust in your team, and stay resilient even when things don’t go as planned.We dive into:• When to keep going, and when to let go• The link between conviction and coordination in leadership• Why control feels safe – but stops growth• Managing failure without losing momentum• Leading through mergers and high-stakes change• How to stay calm and mentally fit (even when your diary explodes)It’s practical, candid, and focuses on what UK leaders need now: leading bravely, staying relevant, and keeping your energy focused.00:00 – Introduction 01:00 – Why leading with conviction can become a weakness 04:21 – Building a smarter team and learning to trust07:11 – The role of failure in leadership 09:37 – Conviction and coordination: the keys to change 10:33 – How Simon navigated a 500-person business through a major acquisition 12:29 – Staying confident when you actually feel uncertain 14:01 – The importance of staying grounded and calm for your team 15:51 – Learning from mergers, culture shifts, and tough decisions 17:26 – Evolving your leadership style as everything changes 19:00 – What’s really happening in the UK marketing industry right now 22:40 – Where UK creativity is heading next24:06 – The advice Simon would give every agency CEO 28:17 – Protecting your brand and your time under pressure 33:02 – Practical ways to help leaders prioritise, focus, and say no 35:19 – Why emotional intelligence matters more than ever 36:22 – Leading through failure, and making learning collective 37:23 – Being bolder, more disciplined, and mentally fit for the futureDon’t miss this down-to-earth, actionable conversation. If you’re navigating organisational change, agency mergers, or just struggling to keep your team steady, this episode gives you the kind of real, UK-focused leadership advice we all need.In a world of constant strategic change, this conversation focuses on how to manage change effectively within your business, emphasising practical management techniques for organisational design and personal development.👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

Sedge Beswick, founder-turned-consultant who scaled Scene Connects and now advises leaders, reflects on identity, tough career turns and making space for family. She discusses stepping back from a business she built, the moment that clarified her priorities, coping with overwhelm, learning to say no, and designing a portfolio career that aligns with values.

Conversations about finding courage to change, even when it feels risky. Short stories about quitting without a safety net and trusting connection skills over comfort. Talks on being direct, challenging conformity, and embracing disruption as growth. Reflections on how leaders' inner work shapes high performing teams.

How do you build real allyship and create cultural change that actually sticks?This episode is one every leader should spend time with. Not because it’s “nice to know,” but because the future of your culture depends on it.Lee Chambers, Founder & CEO of Male Allies UK, brings the kind of clarity and challenge most workplaces avoid. We talk about what it really takes to:Redefine outdated masculine stereotypesBuild workplaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and able to thriveLead in a way that strengthens culture rather than protects egoIt’s a conversation that will stretch your thinking, spark uncomfortable-but-important questions, and give you practical ways to lead with more intention and courage.We also dig into Lee’s research on young people, AI companionship, and how boys today are making sense of identity, relationships, and society. Some of it is hopeful. Some of it is confronting. All of it matters, especially if you’re a parent or you lead the next generation.We cover:00:00 – Introduction 01:02 - What courage looks like for leaders today 02:31 – Why quiet courage matters as much as big gestures 03:49 – The tough decision to break with convention 06:06 – How stepping into new spaces changes your perspective 08:08 – The power of career “squiggles” and non-conformity 10:05 – Shedding old identities and building new ones as a leader 12:14 – What do boys really think about society? Surprising research findings 16:07 – Why boys care deeply but struggle to know how to help 20:08 – The decline of physical spaces for social connection 21:24 – Boys, girls and the challenges of communicating across gender 23:33 – Judgment vs. curiosity - what’s holding us back? 27:20 – Navigating polarisation and building empathy at work 34:08 – Can younger and older generations find common ground? 43:50 – The rise of AI companions and what it means for young people 52:23 – Everyday bravery and the value of small changes over time 54:43 – How to focus on influence and control in uncertain timesDon’t miss this thoughtful and practical conversation for anyone working in leadership or looking to create real change at work.👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54